Continuous pan conveyor baking apparatus

ABSTRACT

For baking a plurality of cakes or other edible products in pans which continuously pass through an oven, an endless pan and conveyor assembly is provided which travels along an endless path in first a forward direction through the baking oven and then return to the starting point in a return direction. The assembly includes a means along the conveyor for selectively removing the pans from the conveyor while moving in the return direction. Specifically, a plurality of brackets are provided on spaced conveyors. The brackets support the pans which span the distance between the spaced conveyors, the pans being removable by a camming mechanism associated with the conveying means. After the cakes are baked they are released from the pan by a conveying mechanism which holds the cakes while reversing their direction so that they are conveyed from the releasing mechanism in an upright position. Further operations on the cake include slicing the same by a novel slicing mechanism, topping one of the parts so sliced and then returning the parts to a station where they are placed together, such stations being spaced longitudinally along the conveyors by reason of a special type of conveyor mechanism.

United States Patent Arganbright et al.

[ 51 July4, 1972 [54] CONTINUOUS PAN CONVEYOR BAKING APPARATUS [72]Inventors: Ned ll. Arganbright; Paul J. Koepnick; Carl T. Nelson; ArthurE. OBrien, all of Grand Rapids, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Werner Lehara, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich.

[22] Filed: Sept. 16, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 72,733

52 US. Cl ..99 443 3,345,95710/1967 Welch Primary Examiner-Patrick D.Lawson Att0rneyPrice, l-leneveld, Huizenga & Cooper [57] ABSTRACT Forbaking a plurality of cakes or other edible products in pans whichcontinuously pass through an oven, an endless pan and conveyor assemblyis provided which travels along an endless path in first a forwarddirection through the baking oven and then return to the starting pointin a return direction. The assembly includes a means along the conveyorfor selectively removing the pans from the conveyor while moving in thereturn direction. Specifically, a plurality of brackets are provided onspaced conveyors. The brackets support the pans which span the distancebetween the spaced conveyors, the pans being removable by a cammingmechanism associated with the conveying means. After the cakes are bakedthey are released from the pan by a conveying mechanism which holds thecakes while reversing their direction so that they are conveyed from thereleasing mechanism in an upright position. Further operations on thecake include slicing the same by a novel slicing mechanism, topping oneof the parts so sliced and then returning the parts to a station wherethey are placed together, such stations being spaced longitudinallyalong the conveyors by reason of a special type of conveyor mechanism.

24 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures CONTINUOUS PAN CONVEYOR BAKING APPARATUSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The prior art apparatus for continuouslybaking cakes have been of many different varieties. Basically twoconstructions have been utilized. The first of these is to placeseparate pans on conveyors previous to passingthe conveyor through anoven and then removing the pans and subsequently removing the cakes fromthe pans. The pans are then returned to the original starting point bytrucks or a separate conveyor where they are filled with the dough andthen the baking process repeated. A second type of apparatus has been toconstruct a conveyor with built-in pans which were filled with dough,then passed through an oven, and then the cakes removed thereafter bymany different means.

The above two constructions have not been satisfactory because of theinherent problems created thereby. The first described apparatusrequires constant laborious and expensive handling of the pans, suchhandling creating other problems inherently involved in handling atremendous number of pans such as the cleaning, drying and the like. Thesecond above-described apparatus created the problem of not being ableto remove and replace the pans without considerable effort and timeinvolved therein which required the shutting down of the entireoperation when the pans are damaged or are to be repaired or replaced.

Efforts have been made to provide pan and conveyor assemblies by whichthe pans could constitute an integral part of the conveyor but at thesame time could be removed without too much difficulty, but to ourknowledge, no one has accomplished this end to complete satisfaction.

Further, apparatus for releasing the cakes from the pans which formedintegral parts of the conveyor have not been satisfactory. The handlingof the cake thus removed and conveying it down a conveyor for subsequentoperations also created difficult problems.

In the manufacturing of filled cake by first baking the cake, thenslicing it, and then filling it with a filler material has also beenaccomplished in many different ways. However, to our knowledge,considerable difficulties have been experienced in the use of suchapparatus. 7

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to eliminatethe problems encountered by others as previously referred to. To thisend, this invention relates to apparatus for continuously baking cakesin pans without having to handle the pans. The pans are automaticallycleaned, dried, filled with dough and passed through an oven withoutbeing touched by human hands. Further, this apparatus includes anendless pan and conveyor assembly in which the conveyor and pans aresubstantially an integral conveyor but which has the distinct advantageof providing a means whereby the pans can be removed by an easyadjustment of a cam means which will cause the brackets which hold thepans to drop them at a predetermined point near the starting station.This construction permits pans to be removed without stopping theoperation and also the quick replacement of new pans with very littledifficulty.

This invention also relates to a novel means for releasing the cake fromthe pans and conveying the cake continuously in an upright position tosubsequent stations for other operations. The release of the cake isdone without an operator and the cake is handled without damaging thesame. The individual cakes are also kept in a predetermined arrangementat substantially spaced positions for subsequent operations.

In accordance with this invention the subsequent operations include thesplitting of the cake or other edible article into at least two partsand filling it with a filler material. The novel apparatus foraccomplishing this operation includes a conveyor which branches into twoconveyors. At the juncture of the single conveyor and the two conveyorsis a slicing apparatus. The parts of the cake after being sliced areconveyed at different levels. Along one of the conveyors is a depositingapparatus which deposits a filler on one part. The two parts aresubsequently brought together by the conveyors at stations wheremanually the two are placed together and subsequently conveyed down theline for additional operations.

This invention as briefly described can be best understood from adetailed description thereof made in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings which include as follows:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. IA and 1B are side elevationalviews of a schematic lay-out of the apparatus of this invention showingthe relationship of the various components thereof, FIG. 18 being acontinuation of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevational view of the pan removal mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane IIIIII of FIG. 2and again illustrating the pan removal mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane IV IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of one end of the conveyor and pan assembly;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of one end of the conveyor and panassembly taken along the plane VIVI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of one end of the conveyor and panassembly taken along the plane VII-VII of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view ofa section of the conveyor and panassembly viewing it from the side and top;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cake release mechanism or systemby which the cake is released from the pans previous to their return tothe starting point;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cake release mechanism or system;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the conveyor mechanism atthe cake slitter and illustrating the construction of the slitter orslicer means;

FIG. 12 is a side-elevational view of the slitter mechanism looking atit from one side of the conveyor;

FIG. 13 is a side-elevational view of the slitter looking at it from theother side of the conveyor; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the conveyor mechanism for the slicedproduct by which the top part thereof is presented to the lower conveyorat different stations spaced longitudinally of the conveyors.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring specifically to thedrawings, FIGS. IA and 1B show the entire baking, slicing and fillinglines which include the baking assembly 1 (FIG. 1A) and the cooling,slicing and filling assembly 2 (FIG. 1A) both of which areinterconnected together to form one process line'so that the entireoperation from the start of depositing the dough in the pans to thecompletion of slicing and filling the cakes is accomplished on onecontinuous line with the only handling of the product by human handsbeing the placing or capping of the top layer on the filling depositedon the bottom layer.

The baking assembly 1 includes a continuous, endless conveyor and panassembly comprising the upper track 3 and the lower track 4 bothextending the entire length of the baking assembly 2. The tracks 3 and 4carry the conveyor and pan assembly which will be described in detail inconjunction with FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The conveyor and panassembly is driven by the drive pulleys 6 and 7 located at each end ofthe baking assembly. The pans are carried on track 3 in a forwarddirection through oven 5 and are returned on track 4 through the panwasher 8 and pan dryer 9. The pans can be selectively released from theconveyor on a pan removal conveyor by a mechanism which will bedescribed in greater detail hereinafter. The baking assembly alsoincludes the pan greaser l1 and the dough depositor 12, both of whichare generally well-known in the art.

At the far right end of FIG. IA is a cake releaser mechanism .13 forreleasing the cake from tl.; am and placing them on the conveyor 14 in apredetermined arrangement. Continuing down on conveyor 14 on FIG. 18,there is provided a plurality of cooling hoods 15 having exhaust stacks16. Further down the line is the slitter or slicer mechanism 17 at whichthe conveyor I4 branches into an upper conveyor means 18 formed in twoseparate conveyors 18a and 18b for conveying the top part C1 of the cakeas sliced by the slicing mechanism 17. The lower parts C2 are conveyedby the lower conveyor 14 which passes under a depositor 20 fordepositing a filling material on each of the parts C2 of the cakes. Theconveyors l4 and 18 then converge by means of the two separate conveyors18a and 18b. These two conveyors are of different lengths and arearranged at a different angle to conveyor 14 in order to bring theseparts carried thereby to different stations designated A and B, at whichstations workers place the parts carried by the conveyors 18a and 18bupon the parts carried by conveyor 14 on which a filling has beendeposited. This is frequently referred to as the capping operation.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, the conveyorand pan assembly as a whole is designated by reference numeral 30. Thisassembly includes roller chains or conveyors 31a and 31b comprising therollers 32 mounted on the ends of the rods 33 and connected together bythe links 34 so as to support the rods between the tracks 4. The rollers32 roll or ride on the tracks 4 moving in a return direction and ontracks 3 (FIGS. 1A and 8) when moving in a forward direction. Thus, ineffect, two spaced conveyor means are provided which are connectedtogether by the rods 33. As disclosed in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rods 33 arearranged in pairs and each have reduced end portions 33a on which areslidably mounted the brackets 35 at each end of a pair of rods. Thebrackets are L-shaped thereby having the two flanges or legs 35a and35b. The leg 35b has an opening 36 receiving the reduced portion 33a ofthe rod 33 thus providing the sliding relationship between the rods andthe brackets. Coil springs 37 are mounted on the rods 33 between the legor flange 35b of the bracket 35 and one of the links 34 of the rollerchain conveyor providing biasing means which biases the bracket 35Atoward the space between the two conveyor chains. As best disclosed inFIGS. 5 and 6, the leg 35b of bracket 35 has a nipple 38 also extendinginwardly towards the space between the conveyor chains. Further, the legor flange 35a of bracket 35 has inclined surfaces 39a and 39b providing,as will be described hereinafter, cam surfaces for engaging a cam whichwill force the bracket 35 outwardly against the bias of springs 37.

The pans 40 are mounted between the two respective brackets of each pairof rods 33 with the nipple 38 extending into a recess 38a supporting thepans firmly between the two brackets. However, it should be understoodthat the pans can be removed by forcing the brackets 35 outwardlyagainst the bias of springs 37 thus releasing the pans from thebrackets.

It should be realized that FIGS. 5 and 6 disclose the pans beingsupported with the containers facing downwardly or in upside-downposition. The pans assume this position when on the return track 4. Onthe other hand, when on the forward track 3, the pans, as shown in FIG.8, face upwardly for receiving the dough and carrying the same throughthe oven as the cake is being baked in the ovens.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 disclose in greater detail the means for camming thebrackets outwardly for removing the pans from the conveyor and panassembly. This mechanism includes a camming element or bar 41 threadedlymounted at one end on the threaded portion 44 of rod 43 and slidablymounted at its other end on the guide rod 48. The camming bar is locatedbetween tracks 4 (FIG. 3) and extends longitudinally of the tracks, thelongitudinal extension thereof being maintained by the guide bar 48.This element 41 has a camming surface 42 arranged to engage the cammingsurfaces 390 and 39b of brackets 35 when adjusted to the proper positiontransversely of the track. As shown in FIG. 3 the camming element 41 islocated inwardly ofthe camming surfaces 39 and as a result, in theposition as shown, they would not actuate the brackets for releasing thepans 40. However, the positions of camming elements 41 are adjustable byturning or rotating a rod 43 which in turn rotates the threaded portions44 threadedly engaged within the body of camming elements 41. Thus, thecamming elements 41 can be adjusted inwardly or outwardly to eitherengage or not engage the camming surfaces 39 of the brackets 35. Whennot engaging the camming surfaces, the pans remain supported by thebrackets 35 and continue to form the continuous and endless conveyor andpan assembly. However, when the camming surface 42 of the cammingelement 41 engages the camming surfaces 39 of bracket 35, the bracketsare forced outwardly against the bias of springs 37 causing the pan todrop downwardly onto a pan removal conveyor 10 which is a transportableconveyor having a belt 45 driven by a pulley 46 which in turn is drivenby the motor 47. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, when the camming element 41engages the brackets 35 and drops the pans, the pans drop on the beltconveyor 45 which conveys them in a direction shown by the arrow to theend of a conveyor from which they are removed by an operator.

FIG. 9 discloses the cake release system or mechanism. Reference numeral7 designates a drive pulley which drives the roller chain conveyor andconsequently the conveyor and pan assembly. The drive pulley 7 is drivenby the motor 50. In order to properly release the cakes from the pans,three distinct web conveyor mechanisms 51, 52 and 53 are provided.

The web conveyor mechanism 51 includes a drive pulley or shaft 54 andthe idler pulley or sprockets 55, 56 and 57. Adjacent idler pulley 57 isa guide element 58 provided to make the web conform to the nose-likeshape as shown. The web is constructed, as shown in FIG. 10, of amaterial which has a plurality ofmesh openings or apertures so as not tocompletely cover and smother the cake but to merely hold the cake inplace. Web conveyor 51 holds the cake in place within the pans until thepans reach a substantially upside-down or inverted position.Intermediate the upright and inverted position is provided a means foreither vibrating or tonking the pans so as to give a shock or motion tothe pans which will cause the cakes to separate from the surfaces of thepans. This so-called vibrating or tonking device is illustratedschematically by reference numeral 59, it being understood that anysatisfactory means can be provided for loosening the cakes from thepans. Examples of such means could include an air hammer, an electricalvibrating element or any other number of suitable means.

The web conveyor mechanism 52 is provided for the purpose of supportingthe cakes as they fall out of the pans when the pans are in the invertedor upside-down position. The web conveyor mechanism 52 thus provides aslightly inclined but flat surface section 60. As shown, the webbing ofthe conveyor is constructed of the same open mesh material as theconveyor 51. It is driven by the dividers 71 of divider conveyormechanism 70. The mesh passes about the pulley or sprocket 62 which hasrectilinear sides forming a hexagon. The mesh also rides about thetake-up roller 64.

In order to encapsulate or contain each of the cakes in separatecompartments and to singulate them in rows, the web conveyor 53 isprovided which as shown rides on the pulleys or sprockets 65, 66, 67, 68and also on the guide element 69. As disclosed, a divider conveyormechanism 70 is also provided which has a plurality of dividers 71secured thereto which extend through the openings of the mesh of theconveyor 52 and in conjunction with the web conveyor 53 forms separatecompartments 73 enclosed by dividers and the web of conveyors 52 and 53.These compartments are provided in order to maintain the proper spacedposition between the cakes as they are turned right side up, reversed indirection, and then conveyed by conveyor 14 for subsequent operationswhich will be later described.

As disclosed in FIG. 9, a steam spray nozzle 74 and an air spray nozzle75 are provided for cleaning and sanitizing the web of conveyor 53.

After being placed on conveyor 14 the cakes are passed through openingshoods l5 and then to a slitter or slicer mechanism 17, the details ofwhich are disclosed in FIGS. l1, l2 and 13. Reference number 70designates a conveyor bed on which a belt 71 is driven. Above theconveyor bed 70 and conveyor belt 71 is mounted a band cutter or slicerhaving a band saw blade 72 extending around the sheaves 73 and 74 oneach side of the conveyor. The sheaves and the saw blade are mounted ina housing 75 having walls extending around the tops and sides. At thebottom there are a plurality of guides 76 supported on the cross member77 and held in rigid position by the cross bar 78 extending throughopening 79 in each of the guides 76. The guides have the saw bladereceiving openings 80 for guiding the saw blade as it travels on anendless path around the sheaves 73 and 74 which are driven by motor 81.

In order to properly adjust the saw blade 72 at a desired height, anadjusting mechanism is provided which includes a support frame 82 oneach side of the conveyor. The frames 82a and 82b are mounted on thelevers 83a and 83b. These levers 83a and 83b are supported on pintles84a and 84b, respectively. The pivotal position of the levers 83a and83b are determined by the cams 85a and 85b also located on each side ofthe conveyor, the position of which are controlled by the pivotingthereof through the rod 86 by means of the actuating or lever arm 87.Thus, rotation of arm 87 in either direction will cause levers 83a and83b to be moved to change the position of the entire slicer or slitterassembly including the motors, the sheaves, the housing, the bladeguides, the blade, and other associated parts of the assembly. Asdisclosed, a locking plate 88 is provided on the shaft 86 for lockingthe rod or shaft 86, and consequently the entire assembly, in position.This is accomplished by tightening the nut 89 which rides in a groove90. Also provided are the locking handles 91a and 91b each of which areadapted for pivoting into a notch 92a and 92b, respectively, for holdingthe levers 83a and 83b against the adjusting cams 85a and 85b,respectively.

FIG. 12 discloses the means for slicing the cake, designated as C, intotwo distinct parts Cl and C2 and conveying them on different conveyorsso as to temporarily separate the two in order to deposit a filling onthe part C2. As disclosed, the elevator conveyor 18 is provided whichhas a nose portion 18a that protrudes into the space between the twoparts as the cake is being sliced. Upon completion of the slicing theconveyor 18 carries the top part Cl upwardly away from the bottom partC2. Thus, this is the start of the slicing and filling operation. Aspreviously described, the upper parts C1 are carried by the elevator 18upwardly as disclosed in FIG. 1B. The lower part C2 is carried along bythe conveyor 14 to a depositor 20 of any conventional type whichdeposits a filling on the part C2. As also disclosed in FIG. 1B, theconveyor 18 is divided into two parts 18a and 18b, one of which isinclined at a different angle and is of different length than the other.The reason for this is to present the top parts C1 at differentlongitudinal positions A and B along the conveyor 14 so that operatorswhich are placing the top Cl on the filled bottom part C2 can be spacedlongitudinally one from the other along the conveyor so as to performthe so-called capping operation without interfering with one another.This construction is shown schematically in FIG. 1B and in perspectivein FIG. 14 wherein 18B is shown substantially shorter and inclined at agreater angle than 18C. Thus workers standing along the line will notinterfere with one another.

OPERATION The operation of the apparatus of this invention should beobvious from the above description. Briefly, when in operation, thedriving pulleys or sprockets 6 and 7 are driving the conveyor and panassembly 30 along a continuous endless path starting at the greaser 11.At the greaser station, the pans are greased and then carried to thedepositor 12 which deposits dough in each of the pans. The pans at thatparticular section of the conveyor then move along the tracks 3 in aforward direction through the oven 5 and in emerging therefrom passunderneath the heat retention covers 91. When the pan reaches drivingpulley 6 it passes into the cake release mechanism or system (FIG. 9)and in so doing the web conveyor 51 holds the cakes in the pans whilethe pans are traveling around the pulley 6 from an upright to aninverted position. Shortly after making a turn the pans are vibrated ortonked causing the cake to be vibrated loose from the surface of thepan. When the pans are substantially in an upside-down or invertedposition they pass out of contact with the web conveyor 51 which permitsthe cakes to fall with their tops down onto the inclined surface 60 ofthe web conveyor 52. The web conveyor 52 carries the cakes in aclockwise direction, or to the left as viewed in FIG. 9, and as eachcake is thus carried the dividers 71 of the divider conveyor 70 projectsbetween each of the cakes. These dividers 71 contact the web of the webconveyor 53 and in effect form a compartment in which the cake islocated. In other words, the cake is completely encapsulated within thewebs of the web conveyors 52 and 53 and within the dividers 71. Whilebeing so encapsulated, the direction of the travel of the cakes iscompletely reversed so as to travel in the same direction as the forwarddirection of the conveyor and pan assembly. When thus traveling in thisdirection they are carried onto the conveyor 14 from whence the cakes inpredetermined spaced position are carried under the cooling hoods 15 tothe slicer mechanism 17.

At the slicer mechanism the band saw blade which has been adjusted forslicing the cake at the proper level, slices the cake in two along thehorizontal plane. During this slicing operation, as disclosed in FIG. 12the top part C1 is separated from the bottom part C2 by the inclinedconveyor 18 which carries the top parts C1 upwardly in a directiondiverging away from the bottom parts C2 carried by the conveyor 14. Theconveyor 14 conveys the bottom parts C2 to a depositor of a rotatingtype which deposits a filling such as a cream onto the bottom parts C2while being conveyed. The bottom parts C2 are then continued to beconveyed by the conveyor 14 to the stations A and B at which operatorsmanually perform the capping operation of placing the top parts Cl onthe filled or creamed parts C2. The composite cake is then carried alongfor other operations such as icing and packaging.

Referring back to the conveyor and pan assembly, it will be noted fromFIG. 9 the conveyor pan assembly after dropping the cakes is returnedvia the lower track 4 to the original starting point. Before returningto the original starting point, the pans are carried through a panwasher 8 and a pan drier 9 (FIG. 1A).

Should the operator of the machine desire to remove any of the pans forany reason whatsoever such as to change product or replace damaged pans,he can easily do so by rotating the shaft 43 (FIGS. 3 and 4) in theproper direction for causing the cam element or cam bar 41 to moveinwardly for engagement with the cam surfaces 39 of the brackets 35.When so positioned, the cam elements force the brackets outwardlyagainst the bias of the springs 5, thus, causing the nipples 38 to beforced out of the openings 38a of the pans. This releases the pans whichwhen the conveyor and pan assembly are located on the lower track 4permits the pans to fall downwardly onto the pan removal conveyor 10which removes the pans by means of the belt conveyor 45 to a positionwhere the operators can do with them whatever is required. Subsequently,a new pan can replace an old pan by simply forcing the brackets 35outwardly and inserting the pans and permitting the brackets to bebiased inwardly into a supporting position with the nipples 38 withinthe recesses 38a.

It should be readily evident that we have provided a continuous panconveyor baking apparatus which is simple in construction but which atthe same time provides for easy replacement of the pans, provides forsatisfactory release of the cakes from the pans, provides for subsequentoperations of slicing and filling the cakes in a manner in whichheretofore to our knowledge has never been accompivhed.

It should be understood that although we have disclosed the preferredembodiments of our invention, there are many modifications andembodiments thereof that can be provided without departing from thespirit of this invention. Therefore, such modifications and embodimentsshall be considered as included within the scope of this inventionunless otherwise expressly eliminated by the language of the appendedclaims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

I. Apparatus for baking a plurality of individual cakes in pans conveyedthrough an oven means comprising: an endless conveyor means arranged topass through said oven means along a continuous and endless pathextending from a starting point in first a forward direction and thenreturning to said starting point in a return direction; a plurality ofpans; means for mounting said pans on said conveying means for beingcarried thereby throughout said continuous and endless path; and meansalong the conveyor for selectively removing said pans from said conveyorwhile said conveyor is moving and without interrupting the movementthereof.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the conveyor means comprises spacedconveyor means and said pans span the distance between said spacedconveyor means; and means for removably supporting said pans at each endthereof to one of said spaced conveyor means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the continuous and endless path inthe forward direction is located on one plane' and in the reversedirection is located on a different plane whereby the pans in movingfrom one plane to the other are oriented from a top-up position to anupside-down position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the continuous and endless path inthe forward direction is located on one plane and in the reversedirection is located on a different plane whereby the pans in movingfrom one plane to the other are oriented from a top-up position to anupside-down position; and means is provided for releasing the cakes fromsaid pans at locations between said forward and return directions.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the means for releasing the cakesincludes means for conveying said assembly generally in the forwarddirection; means for reversing the direction of said assembly whilecausing the pans to be oriented upside-down; means for holding the cakesdropped out of said pans and while holding said cakes conveying themfirst in said reverse direction and then subsequently again reversingthe direction thereof so as to convey them in said forward direction forsubsequent operations.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the means for supporting the endsof said pans each comprise a bracket on each spaced conveyor meansbiased in a direction toward the space between said spaced conveyormeans; and means associated with said pans and brackets for supportingan end of said pans on said brackets.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the means associated with said pansand brackets includes mating portions on said pans and brackets wherebysaid brackets support said pans by being biased thereagainst so as tocause said mating portions to be cooperably mated.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the spaced conveyor means areinterconnected by a plurality of elongated connecting means; and saidbrackets are slidably mounted on said connecting means.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said brackets include cam means;and cam actuating means is provided along said path for engaging saidcam means to force said brackets against the bias thereof to releasesaid means for supporting said pans.

10. An endless pan and conveyor assembly comprising spaced conveyormeans; an array of pans spanning the distance between said spacedconveyor means; and means for removably supporting said pans at each endthereof to one of said spaced conveyor means, said supporting meanscomprismg:

a bracket on each spaced conveyor means biased in a direction toward thespace between said spaced conveyor means; and

means associated with said pans and brackets for supporting an endofsaid pans on said brackets.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the means as sociated with saidpans and brackets includes mating portions on said pans and bracketswhereby said brackets support said pans by being biased thereagainst soas to cause said mating portions to be cooperably mated.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the spaced conveyor means areinterconnected by a plurality of elongated connecting means; and saidbrackets are slidably mounted on said connecting means.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said brackets include cam meansadapted for engagement by a cam actuator whereby said brackets areforced against the bias thereof to release said means for supportingsaid pans.

l4. ln a releasing means for releasing baked cakes from an endless panand conveyor assembly comprising: means for conveying said assemblygenerally in one direction; means for reversing the direction of saidassembly while causing the pans to be oriented upside-down; means forholding the cakes dropped out of said pans and while holding said cakesconveying them first in said reverse direction and then subsequentlyagain reversing the direction thereof so as to convey them generally insaid one direction.

15. The releasing means of claim 14 in which a means is provided forimposing a vibration to said pans to cause at least surface separationof the cake therein from said pans.

16. The releasing means of claim 14 comprising a first endless webmember for holding the cake in the pans until the pans are orientedsubstantially upside-down; and second and third endless web members forholding the cake while being conveyed in said reverse direction to saidone direction.

17. The releasing means of claim 16 in which a fourth conveyor means isprovided with divider members extending through said second endless webmember for providing means for holding-at least some of said cakesseparate from one another.

18. The releasing means of claim 17 in which a means is provided forimposing a vibration to said pans to cause at least surface separationof the cake therein from said pans.

19. An apparatus for forming a sandwich from one piece of ediblematerial comprising: a first conveyor means; second and third conveyormeans branching from said first conveyor means along different planes;and slicer means at the juncture of said first, second and thirdconveyor means at a position whereby the one piece of edible material iscarried by said first conveyor means to said slicer and the two slicedparts are conveyed away at different levels for subsequentsuperimposition one on the other.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 in which the slicer means is a continuousband extending transversely across said first conveyor means.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 in which the slicer means is a componentof a slicer assembly including a motor and transmission means; supportmeans for supporting the entire slicer assembly; and adjustable meansfor adjusting the position of said support means and thereby said slicermeans with respect to said first conveyor.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 in which the said second and thirdconveyors diverge and subsequently converge; and depositing means oversaid second conveyor between said positions where said second and thirdconveyors diverge and converge for depositing a filler on said slicedpart conveyed by said second conveyor at a time and position before saidconveyors converge.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 in which the third conveyor means isseparated into two downwardly inclined conveyors the lengths and anglesof inclination thereof being different so as to present the said partsthereon at longitudinally spaced positions along the second conveyormeans.

24. A mechanism for handling a plurality of at least two different partsto be joined together to form a sandwich comprising: a first conveyormeans for conveying a plurality of one of said parts along a givenplane; a second conveyor means spaced above said first conveyorforconveying a plurality of the other of said parts along a plane spacedabove said first plane; said secondconveyor means being separated intotwo downwardly inclined conveyors the lengths and angles of inclinationthereof being different so as to present the said other parts atlongitudinally spaced positions along the first conveyor means.

1. Apparatus for baking a plurality of individual cakes in pans conveyedthrough an oven means comprising: an endless conveyor means arranged topass through said oven means along a continuous and endless pathextending from a starting point in first a forward direction and thenreturning to said starting point in a return direction; a plurality ofpans; means for mounting said pans on said conveying means fOr beingcarried thereby throughout said continuous and endless path; and meansalong the conveyor for selectively removing said pans from said conveyorwhile said conveyor is moving and without interrupting the movementthereof.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the conveyor meanscomprises spaced conveyor means and said pans span the distance betweensaid spaced conveyor means; and means for removably supporting said pansat each end thereof to one of said spaced conveyor means.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1 in which the continuous and endless path in theforward direction is located on one plane and in the reverse directionis located on a different plane whereby the pans in moving from oneplane to the other are oriented from a top-up position to an upside-downposition.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the continuous andendless path in the forward direction is located on one plane and in thereverse direction is located on a different plane whereby the pans inmoving from one plane to the other are oriented from a top-up positionto an upside-down position; and means is provided for releasing thecakes from said pans at locations between said forward and returndirections.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the means for releasingthe cakes includes means for conveying said assembly generally in theforward direction; means for reversing the direction of said assemblywhile causing the pans to be oriented upside-down; means for holding thecakes dropped out of said pans and while holding said cakes conveyingthem first in said reverse direction and then subsequently againreversing the direction thereof so as to convey them in said forwarddirection for subsequent operations.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2 inwhich the means for supporting the ends of said pans each comprise abracket on each spaced conveyor means biased in a direction toward thespace between said spaced conveyor means; and means associated with saidpans and brackets for supporting an end of said pans on said brackets.7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the means associated with said pansand brackets includes mating portions on said pans and brackets wherebysaid brackets support said pans by being biased thereagainst so as tocause said mating portions to be cooperably mated.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 6 in which the spaced conveyor means are interconnected by aplurality of elongated connecting means; and said brackets are slidablymounted on said connecting means.
 9. The apparatus of claim 2 in whichsaid brackets include cam means; and cam actuating means is providedalong said path for engaging said cam means to force said bracketsagainst the bias thereof to release said means for supporting said pans.10. An endless pan and conveyor assembly comprising spaced conveyormeans; an array of pans spanning the distance between said spacedconveyor means; and means for removably supporting said pans at each endthereof to one of said spaced conveyor means, said supporting meanscomprising: a bracket on each spaced conveyor means biased in adirection toward the space between said spaced conveyor means; and meansassociated with said pans and brackets for supporting an end of saidpans on said brackets.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the meansassociated with said pans and brackets includes mating portions on saidpans and brackets whereby said brackets support said pans by beingbiased thereagainst so as to cause said mating portions to be cooperablymated.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the spaced conveyor meansare interconnected by a plurality of elongated connecting means; andsaid brackets are slidably mounted on said connecting means.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 10 in which said brackets include cam means adaptedfor engagement by a cam actuator whereby said brackets are forcedagainst the bias thereof to release said means for supporting said pans.14. In a releasing means for releasing baked cakes from an endless panand coNveyor assembly comprising: means for conveying said assemblygenerally in one direction; means for reversing the direction of saidassembly while causing the pans to be oriented upside-down; means forholding the cakes dropped out of said pans and while holding said cakesconveying them first in said reverse direction and then subsequentlyagain reversing the direction thereof so as to convey them generally insaid one direction.
 15. The releasing means of claim 14 in which a meansis provided for imposing a vibration to said pans to cause at leastsurface separation of the cake therein from said pans.
 16. The releasingmeans of claim 14 comprising a first endless web member for holding thecake in the pans until the pans are oriented substantially upside-down;and second and third endless web members for holding the cake whilebeing conveyed in said reverse direction to said one direction.
 17. Thereleasing means of claim 16 in which a fourth conveyor means is providedwith divider members extending through said second endless web memberfor providing means for holding at least some of said cakes separatefrom one another.
 18. The releasing means of claim 17 in which a meansis provided for imposing a vibration to said pans to cause at leastsurface separation of the cake therein from said pans.
 19. An apparatusfor forming a sandwich from one piece of edible material comprising: afirst conveyor means; second and third conveyor means branching fromsaid first conveyor means along different planes; and slicer means atthe juncture of said first, second and third conveyor means at aposition whereby the one piece of edible material is carried by saidfirst conveyor means to said slicer and the two sliced parts areconveyed away at different levels for subsequent superimposition one onthe other.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19 in which the slicer means is acontinuous band extending transversely across said first conveyor means.21. The apparatus of claim 20 in which the slicer means is a componentof a slicer assembly including a motor and transmission means; supportmeans for supporting the entire slicer assembly; and adjustable meansfor adjusting the position of said support means and thereby said slicermeans with respect to said first conveyor.
 22. The apparatus of claim 19in which the said second and third conveyors diverge and subsequentlyconverge; and depositing means over said second conveyor between saidpositions where said second and third conveyors diverge and converge fordepositing a filler on said sliced part conveyed by said second conveyorat a time and position before said conveyors converge.
 23. The apparatusof claim 22 in which the third conveyor means is separated into twodownwardly inclined conveyors the lengths and angles of inclinationthereof being different so as to present the said parts thereon atlongitudinally spaced positions along the second conveyor means.
 24. Amechanism for handling a plurality of at least two different parts to bejoined together to form a sandwich comprising: a first conveyor meansfor conveying a plurality of one of said parts along a given plane; asecond conveyor means spaced above said first conveyor for conveying aplurality of the other of said parts along a plane spaced above saidfirst plane; said second conveyor means being separated into twodownwardly inclined conveyors the lengths and angles of inclinationthereof being different so as to present the said other parts atlongitudinally spaced positions along the first conveyor means.